US Sanctions Contrary to Geneva Deal: Iran

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The new sanctions imposed on Iranian individuals and firms by the US violate the Geneva agreement (the Joint Plan of Action), Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said on Saturday.

The move is inconsistent with the current process of negotiations between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) aimed at resolving the nuclear issue, Afkham said.

She made the comments in reaction to the US Treasury Department’s new sanctions on more than 25 Iranian individuals and companies, including shipping firms, oil companies, airlines and six Iranian banks.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran denounces any unilateral and biased-interpretation of the Geneva agreement by the US and strongly believes that the sanctions are contrary to the country’s commitments,” Afkham said.

In relevant remarks on Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran is not afraid of the US-led sanctions over its nuclear energy program.

“We are not afraid of sanctions. The government has handled the affairs despite sanctions. Sanction is oppression and aggression against the rights of the Iranian nation. It is our duty to put the aggressors in their place,” said president Rouhani.

The Islamic Republic had previously slammed similar sanctions stating that the punitive measures are contrary to the spirit of the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the G5+1 aimed at resolving the decade-long standoff on Tehran's peaceful nuclear energy program.

Back in July, after more than two weeks of intensive diplomatic negotiations in Vienna, Iran and the six nations agreed to continue talks for another four months.

The two sides decided to extend the nuclear talks until November 24 in the hope of clinching a final deal. The four-month extension of the talks began on July 21.

Iran and the sextet on November 24, 2013, signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva.

The breakthrough agreement (the Joint Plan of Action), which came into effect on January 20, had given the parties extendable six months to draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal.